Optical disc accommodating case

ABSTRACT

An optical disc accommodating case has a bottom cover, an upper lid and a connecting member. The connecting member has two lateral edges opposed to each other. The bottom cover and the upper lid are respectively and pivotally assembled onto the two lateral edges of the connecting member. The bottom cover, the upper lid and the connecting member are formed separately and then assembled together. As such, the optical disc accommodating case cannot be twisted or deformed, thereby ensuring that the position of a retaining base of the bottom cover is precise, and that the optical disc is capable of being installed on the bottom cover smoothly. Therefore, the efficiency of the optical disc automatic packing process is improved, causing the cost of the optical disc automatic packing process to be lowered.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an accommodating case, and more particularly, to an optical disc accommodating case.

2. Background of the Invention

Optical discs, such as a Compact Discs (CDs), a Video Compact Discs (VCDs), a Compact Disc-Recordables (CD-Rs), and a Digital Versatile Discs (DVDs), have large capacities for storing data, long user lives and are low priced. They have as such become popular data storage devices in the modern world. An optical disc is placed into an optical disc accommodating case for facilitating the storage and the delivery of the optical disc.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional optical disc accommodating case is integrally formed in one piece (for example, the accommodating case is integrally injected using plastic). The optical disc accommodating case includes a bottom cover 91, an upper lid 92, and a connecting member 93. The connecting member 93 has two lateral edges opposed to each other. The bottom cover 91 and the upper lid 92 are respectively and integrally connected onto the lateral edges of the connecting member 93. Two V-shaped slots 931 are respectively formed between the connecting member 93 and the bottom cover 91 and between the connecting member 93 and the upper lid 92. As such, the bottom cover 91 and the upper lid 92 can be bent and located between an open position and a closed position. The bottom cover 91 has a retaining base 912 for retaining a central hole of an optical disc.

An optical disc automatic packing process for installing an optical disc into the optical disc accommodating case uses an automatic assembly line to improve the efficiency thereof. The automatic assembly line carries the optical disc accommodating case and/or the optical disc, and an automatic machine thereof installs the optical disc into the optical disc accommodating case. When the bottom cover 91 and the upper lid 92 are located at the open position, the optical disc is installed on the bottom cover 91, and the retaining base 912 retains a central hole of the optical disc. When the bottom cover 91 and the upper lid 92 are located at the closed position, the optical disc accommodating case can protect the optical disc received therein.

The bottom cover 91, the upper lid 92, and the connecting member 93 are integrally form in one piece. The property of the plastic and the variation of the injected conditions of the plastic cause the case to twist and deformation of the optical disc accommodating case can easily occur thereafter. This is especially true when the bottom cover 91 and the upper lid 92 are located at the open position or the closed position. The errors of the V-shaped slots 931 cause the twisting and deformation of the optical disc accommodating case much more easily. As a result, the positioning of the retaining base 912 is not precise and the optical disc is unable to be installed on the bottom cover 91 smoothly. Thereby, the operation of the automatic assembly line is broken. Finally, the efficiency of installing the optical disc into the optical disc accommodating case is reduced, causing the cost of the optical disc automatic packing process to increase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is therefore to specify an optical disc accommodating case to prevent the twisting and deformation of the optical discs, and to improve the efficiency of the optical disc automatic packing process of installing the optical disc into the optical disc accommodating case, so as to reduce the cost of the optical disc automatic packing process.

According to the invention, the object is achieved via an optical disc accommodating case comprising a bottom cover, an upper lid, and a connecting member. The connecting member has two lateral edges opposed to each other. The bottom cover and the upper lid are respectively and pivotally assembled onto the two lateral edges of the connecting member.

The bottom cover, the upper lid, and the connecting member are formed separately and each is formed in a single piece, and then assembled together. As such, the optical disc accommodating case cannot be twisted or deformed, thereby ensuring that the position of a retaining base of the bottom cover is precise, and that the optical disc is capable of being installed on the bottom cover smoothly. Therefore, the optical disc automatic packing process of installing the optical disc into the optical disc accommodating case is not broken, and the efficiency of the optical disc automatic packing process is improved, causing the cost of the optical disc automatic packing process to be lowered.

To provide a further understanding of the invention, the following detailed description illustrates embodiments and examples of the invention. Examples of the more important features of the invention thus have been summarized rather broadly in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the contributions to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention which will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical disc accommodating case of the prior art;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an optical disc accommodating case of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of part A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of part B of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged planar view of part A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged planar view of part B of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an assembled perspective view of an optical disc accommodating case of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of part A of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of part B of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is another assembled perspective view of an optical disc accommodating case of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an assembled planar view of an optical disc accommodating case of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged planar view of part A of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged planar view of part B of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of an optical disc accommodating case of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 2-6, the present invention provides an optical disc accommodating case comprising a bottom cover 1, an upper lid 2 and a connecting member 3. The bottom cover 1, the upper lid 2, and the connecting member 3 are formed separately and each is formed as a single piece. For example, the bottom cover 1, the upper lid 2, and the connecting member 3 each can be injected using plastic or stamped using a metal (such as an iron plate).

The bottom cover 1 has a bottom plate 10 and a retaining base 12. The bottom plate 10 and the retaining base 12 can be injected using plastic, so that the retaining base 12 is integrally connected on an inner surface of the bottom plate 10. The retaining base 12 is for retaining a central hole of an optical disc. The bottom cover 1 further has a first lateral plate 11. The first lateral plate 11 has a bottom cover locking structure (not labeled). In this embodiment, the bottom cover 1 has a rectangular shape. The first lateral plate 11 is integrally connected on three lateral edges (outer lateral edges) of the bottom plate 10. The other lateral edge (inner lateral edge) of the bottom plate 10 can be elastically deformed and has a bottom cover pivotal connecting structure.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG. 6, the inner lateral edge of the bottom plate 10 of the bottom cover 1 has a first mid-sectional cantilever 13 and a first pivotal rod 14. The first mid-sectional cantilever 13 is connected on a mid-section of the inner lateral edge of the bottom plate 10 and has a first mid-sectional oblique face 131. The first pivotal rod 14 is connected on the first mid-sectional cantilever 13.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the inner lateral edge of the bottom plate 10 of the bottom cover 1 has two symmetric first outer-end cantilevers 15 and two symmetric first pivotal posts 16. The first outer-end cantilevers 15 are respectively connected on two ends of the inner lateral edge of the bottom plate 10. Each of the first outer-end cantilevers 15 has a first outer-end oblique face 151. The first pivotal posts 16 are respectively connected on the first outer-end cantilevers 15.

The first mid-sectional cantilever 13, the first pivotal rod 14, the first outer-end cantilevers 15, and the first pivotal posts 16 form the bottom cover pivotal connecting structure.

The upper lid 2 has an upper plate 20. The upper lid 2 further has a second lateral plate 21. The second lateral plate 21 has an upper lid locking structure (not labeled). In this embodiment, the upper lid 2 has a rectangular shape. The second lateral plate 21 is integrally connected on three lateral edges (outer lateral edges) of the upper plate 20. The other lateral edge (inner lateral edge) of the upper plate 20 can be elastically deformed and has an upper lid pivotal connecting structure.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG. 6, the inner lateral edge of the upper plate 20 of the upper lid 2 has a second mid-sectional cantilever 23 and a second pivotal rod 24. The second mid-sectional cantilever 23 is connected on a mid-section of the inner lateral edge of the upper plate 20 and has a second mid-sectional oblique face 231. The second pivotal rod 24 is connected on the second mid-sectional cantilever 23.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the inner lateral edge of the upper plate 20 of the upper lid 2 has two symmetric second outer-end cantilevers 25 and two symmetric second pivotal posts 26. The second outer-end cantilevers 25 are respectively connected on two ends of the inner lateral edge of the upper plate 20. Each of the second outer-end cantilevers 25 has a second outer-end oblique face 251. The second pivotal posts 26 are respectively connected on the second outer-end cantilevers 25.

The second mid-sectional cantilever 23, the second pivotal rod 24, the second outer-end cantilevers 25, and the second pivotal posts 26 form the upper lid pivotal connecting structure.

The connecting member 3 has two lateral edges 30 opposed to each other. The lateral edges 30 of the connecting member 3 have a connecting member pivotal connecting structure.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG. 6, the connecting member 3 has a mid-sectional rib 31 disposed on a mid-section of an inner surface thereof. The connecting member 3 has two pivotal slots 311 each disposed in a mid-section of one corresponding lateral edge 30 of the connecting member 3. The pivotal slots 311 are respectively disposed in two ends of the mid-sectional rib 31. In addition, the connecting member 3 has two mid-sectional oblique stoppers 312 respectively disposed on mid-sections of the lateral edges 30 of the connecting member 3 and respectively adjacent to the pivotal slots 311.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the connecting member 3 has two outer-end ribs 32 respectively disposed on two ends of an inner surface of the connecting member 3. The connecting member 3 has four pivotal holes 321 each disposed in one corresponding end of one corresponding lateral edge 30 of the connecting member 3. The pivotal holes 321 are respectively disposed in two ends of the outer-end ribs 32. In addition, the connecting member 3 has four outer-end oblique stoppers 322 respectively disposed on the ends of the lateral edges 30 of the connecting member 3 and respectively adjacent to the pivotal holes 321.

The mid-sectional rib 31 and the outer-end ribs 32 improve the strength of the connecting member 3. The pivotal slots 311 and the pivotal holes 321 form the connecting member pivotal connecting structure.

In addition, the connecting member 3 has a plurality of support portions 33 disposed on the inner surface thereof. The support portions 33 are disposed on two lateral edges 30 of the connecting member 3.

Referring to FIGS. 7-13, in assembly, the inner lateral edge of the bottom cover 1 and the inner lateral edge of the upper lid 2 are slightly bent, so that a distance between two ends of the inner lateral edge of the bottom cover 1 decreases and a distance between two ends of the inner lateral edge of the upper lid 2 also decreases.

Furthermore, the first pivotal posts 16 and the second pivotal posts 26 are respectively aligned with the pivotal holes 321 of one corresponding lateral edge 30 of the connecting member 3. The first pivotal rod 14 and the second pivotal rod 24 are respectively aligned with the pivotal slots 311 of the connecting member 3.

Furthermore, the first pivotal rod 14 and the second pivotal rod 24 are respectively depressed into the pivotal slots 311 of the connecting member 3, so that the distance between the two ends of the inner lateral edge of the bottom cover 1 returns to its original length and the distance between the two ends of the inner lateral edge of the upper lid 2 returns to its original length. As such, the first pivotal rod 14 and the second pivotal rod 24 are respectively and pivotally connected into the pivotal slots 311 of the connecting member 3, and the first pivotal posts 16 and the second pivotal posts 26 are respectively and pivotally connected into the pivotal holes 321 of one corresponding lateral edge of the connecting member 3. Therefore, the bottom cover 1 and the upper lid 2 are respectively and pivotally assembled onto the two lateral edges 30 of the connecting member 3. The bottom cover 1 and the upper lid 2 are pivotally located between an open position (as shown in FIG. 7) and a closed position (as shown in FIG. 10).

An optical disc automatic packing process for installing an optical disc into the optical disc accommodating case uses an automatic assembly line. The automatic assembly line carries the optical disc accommodating case and/or the optical disc, and an automatic machine thereof installs the optical disc into the optical disc accommodating case.

When the bottom cover 1 and the upper lid 2 are located at the open position, the optical disc is installed on the bottom cover 1, and the retaining base 12 retains a central hole of the optical disc. The bottom cover 1, the upper lid 2, and the connecting member 3 are formed separately and each is formed as a single piece, and then assembled together. The optical disc accommodating case cannot be twisted or deformed, thereby ensuring that the position of a retaining base 12 of the bottom cover 1 is precise, and that the optical disc is capable of being installed on the bottom cover 1 smoothly. Therefore, the optical disc automatic packing process for installing the optical disc into the optical disc accommodating case is not broken, and the efficiency of the optical disc automatic packing process is improved, causing the cost of the optical disc automatic packing process to be lowered.

When the bottom cover 1 and the upper lid 2 are located at the closed position, the first mid-sectional oblique face 131 of the bottom cover 1 and the second mid-sectional oblique face 231 of the upper lid 2 respectively contact the mid-sectional oblique stoppers 312 of the connecting member 3. The first outer-end oblique faces 151 of the bottom cover 1, the second outer-end oblique faces 251 of the upper lid 2, and both respectively contact the outer-end oblique stoppers 322 of the connecting member 3. As such, the positions of the bottom cover 1 and the upper lid 2 are precise. In addition, an inner surface of the bottom plate 10 and an inner surface of the upper plate 20 contact the support portions 33 of the connecting member 3 and are located at a position of 90 degrees corresponding to the connecting member 3. As such, the structure of the optical disc accommodating case is more exact and firmer. Moreover, the bottom cover locking structure of the first lateral plate 11 and the upper lid locking structure of the second lateral plate 21 are connected with each other. Therefore, when the bottom cover 1 and the upper lid 2 are located at the closed position, the optical disc accommodating case can reliably protect the optical disc received therein.

In this embodiment, the connecting member 3 has one mid-sectional rib 31 and two pivotal slots 311 disposed on the mid-section of the inner surface thereof, the bottom cover 1 has one first mid-sectional cantilever 13 and one first pivotal rod 14, and the upper lid 2 has one second mid-sectional cantilever 23 and one second pivotal rod 24. The connecting member 3 may have more than one mid-sectional rib 31 and more than two pivotal slots 311 disposed on the mid-section of the inner surface thereof. The bottom cover 1 may have more than one first mid-sectional cantilever 13 and more than one first pivotal rod 14. The upper lid 2 may have more than one second mid-sectional cantilever 23 and more than one second pivotal rod 24. In addition, the bottom cover pivotal connecting structure, the upper lid pivotal connecting structure, and the connecting member pivotal connecting structure may have other forms that are connected with each other.

FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment is the bottom cover 1. In this embodiment, the bottom cover 1 has a bottom plate 10 and a retaining base 12. The bottom plate 10 can be stamped using a metal (such as an iron plate). The upper lid 2, and the connecting member 3 also can be stamped using a metal (such as an iron plate). The retaining base 12 can be injected using plastic. The bottom plate 10 has an opening 101 and a plurality of insertion tabs 102. The insertion tabs 102 are disposed on the circumference of the opening 101. The retaining base 12 has a plurality of insertion holes 121. The insertion tabs 102 are respectively inserted into the insertion holes 121, so that the retaining base 12 is assembled onto an inner surface of the bottom plate 10.

As indicated above, the optical disc accommodating case of the present invention has the following advantages:

1. The bottom cover, the upper lid and the connecting member are formed separately and each is formed as a single piece, and then assembled together. As such, the optical disc accommodating case cannot be twisted or deformed, thereby ensuring that the position of a retaining base of the bottom cover is precise, and that the optical disc is capable of being installed on the bottom cover smoothly. Therefore, the optical disc automatic packing process for installing the optical disc into the optical disc accommodating case is not broken, the efficiency of the optical disc automatic packing process is improved, and the cost of the optical disc automatic packing process is lowered.

2. The mid-sectional rib and the outer-end ribs of the connecting member improve the strength of the connecting member.

3. When the bottom cover and the upper lid are located at the closed position, the first mid-sectional oblique face the bottom cover and the second mid-sectional oblique face the upper lid respectively contact the mid-sectional oblique stoppers of the connecting member, and the first outer-end oblique faces the bottom cover and the second outer-end oblique faces the upper lid and respectively contact the outer-end oblique stoppers of the connecting member. As such, the positions of the bottom cover and the upper lid are precise.

4. When the bottom cover and the upper lid are located at the closed position, an inner surface of the bottom plate and an inner surface of the upper plate contact the support portions of the connecting member. As such, the structure of the optical disc accommodating case is firmer.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above description is only illustrative of specific embodiments and examples of the invention. The invention should therefore cover various modifications and variations made to the herein-described structure and operations of the invention, provided they fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the following appended claims. 

1. An optical disc accommodating case comprising: a bottom cover; an upper lid; and a connecting member; wherein the connecting member has two lateral edges opposed to each other, and the bottom cover and the upper lid are respectively and pivotally assembled onto the two lateral edges of the connecting member.
 2. The optical disc accommodating case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting member has a mid-sectional rib disposed on an inner surface thereof, the connecting member has two pivotal slots each disposed in a mid-section of one corresponding lateral edge of the connecting member, the pivotal slots are respectively disposed in two ends of the mid-sectional rib, the connecting member has two mid-sectional oblique stoppers respectively disposed on the lateral edges of the connecting member and respectively adjacent to the pivotal slots, the bottom cover has a first pivotal rod, the upper lid has a second pivotal rod, the first pivotal rod and the second pivotal rod are respectively and pivotally connected into the pivotal slots, the bottom cover and the upper lid are pivotally located between an open position and a closed position, the bottom cover has a first mid-sectional cantilever, the first pivotal rod is connected on the first mid-sectional cantilever, the first mid-sectional cantilever has a first mid-sectional oblique face, the upper lid has a second mid-sectional cantilever, the second pivotal rod is connected on the second mid-sectional cantilever, the second mid-sectional cantilever has a second mid-sectional oblique face, and when the bottom cover and the upper lid are located at the closed position, the first mid-sectional oblique face and the second mid-sectional oblique face respectively contact the mid-sectional oblique stoppers.
 3. The optical disc accommodating case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting member has two outer-end ribs disposed on an inner surface thereof, the connecting member has four pivotal holes each disposed in one corresponding end of one corresponding lateral edge of the connecting member, the pivotal holes are respectively disposed in two ends of the outer-end ribs, the connecting member has four outer-end oblique stoppers respectively disposed on the ends of the lateral edges of the connecting member and respectively adjacent to the pivotal holes, the bottom cover has two first pivotal posts, the upper lid has two second pivotal posts, the first pivotal posts and the second pivotal posts are respectively and pivotally connected into the pivotal holes of one corresponding lateral edge of the connecting member, the bottom cover and the upper lid are pivotally located between an open position and a closed position, the bottom cover has two first outer-end cantilevers, the first pivotal posts are respectively connected on the first outer-end cantilevers, each of the first outer-end cantilevers has a first outer-end oblique face, the upper lid has two second outer-end cantilevers, the second pivotal posts are respectively connected on the second outer-end cantilevers, each of the second outer-end cantilevers has a second outer-end oblique face, and when the bottom cover and the upper lid are located at the closed position, the first outer-end oblique faces and the second outer-end oblique faces respectively contact the outer-end oblique stoppers.
 4. The optical disc accommodating case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting member has a plurality of support portions disposed on an inner surface thereof, the support portions are disposed on two lateral edges of the connecting member, the bottom cover and the upper lid are pivotally located between an open position and a closed position, the bottom cover has a bottom plate, the upper lid has an upper plate, and when the bottom cover and the upper lid are located at the closed position, an inner surface of the bottom plate and an inner surface of the upper plate contact the support portions.
 5. The optical disc accommodating case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom cover has a bottom plate and a retaining base, and the retaining base is integrally connected on an inner surface of the bottom plate.
 6. The optical disc accommodating case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom cover has a bottom plate and a retaining base, and the retaining base is assembled onto an inner surface of the bottom plate. 